New Mexico

$500 million for affordable housing clears first committee – Source New Mexico

Published

8 months ago

January 23, 2024

0 million for affordable housing clears first committee – Source New Mexico

A Senate committee on Monday approved legislation that would put half a billion dollars toward affordable housing in New Mexico – a huge investment that one lawmaker said is necessary to stem the tide of homelessness and rising housing costs in the state.

Sen. Nancy Rodriguez (D-Santa Fe) acknowledged that the Legislature likely won’t award the full amount of her proposed $500 million appropriation request for the Housing Trust Fund, a program overseen by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

She asked for that amount of money to send the message that there is an overwhelming need for a huge investment in housing across the state. And she said Housing Trust Fund administrators have proven themselves capable of leveraging relatively small appropriations from the state into more affordable housing options.

Lawmakers and tenants call on governor to make rent control a priority for 30-day session

“This is an agency that is proven, truly. They do great work. It’s statewide,” Rodriguez said. “You can just see the results. As soon as they get the funding, it goes out.”

The Senate Committee on Health and Public Affairs approved the legislation on a 6-3 vote, with all Republicans voting against. It now moves on to the Senate Finance Committee, where it will face more scrutiny.

The Housing Trust Fund was set up in 2005 to spur investments in affordable housing and to help people find a place to live. It provides grants for mortgage assistance, home weatherization and loans for affordable housing development, among other programs.

In all that time, the agency has received $61 million from the state, including $25 million of federal funds awarded to address the coronavirus pandemic. In July 2023, the fund also received $37.5 million in severance tax bond proceeds, of which more than half has been allocated, according to the agency.

With that funding, the agency has assisted 6,500 households by filling gaps in funding to keep people housed, helping make multi-million-dollar affordable housing complexes break ground, and getting homeless people off the streets.

Isidoro “Izzy” Hernandez, the Mortgage Finance Authority director, said the fund’s return on investment – based on the interest it receives on loans to developers, federal low-income tax credits and other sources – is 16-to-1.

The agency anticipates being able to spend $50 to $80 million from the fund per year, so estimates show the $500 million appropriation request would last for between six and 10 years, according to the Mortgage Finance Authority. Any money not spent in the first year would stay in the fund, according to the legislation.

As many as 20,000 New Mexicans experience homelessness over the course of the year

As part of her priorities this session, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling for a $250 million appropriation for the Housing Trust Fund to assist renters, homeowners and those without shelter, as well as a loan program to finance building or renovation. She’s seeking another $250 million to the New Mexico Finance Authority for similar programs.

But the nonpartisan Legislative Finance Committee is seeking only a $50 million appropriation, according to its recommendations. The committee report does not explain why it arrived at that figure.

Nearly 4,000 New Mexicans were homeless during a 2023 point-in-time count, an increase of 48% since 2022 and likely a huge undercount.

The state lacks 32,000 units affordable to those with low incomes, and nearly 220,000 households in the state spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs, according to the Mortgage Finance Authority.

In addition to sending along the proposed $500 million appropriation, the committee supported $500,000 for the state finance department, which Rodriguez said would go to help small towns complete housing plans that would qualify them for additional help from the Housing Trust Fund.

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New Mexico

Los Poblanos hotel receives 2 Michelin keys

Published

6 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Los Poblanos hotel receives 2 Michelin keys

While many New Mexicans already know about Los Poblanos, the 25-acre inn with gardens, fields and farming is finally giving New Mexico some national recognition.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – While many New Mexicans already know about Los Poblanos, the 25-acre inn with gardens, fields and farming is finally giving New Mexico some national recognition.

“They spent the last four years compiling information on the best hotels in the United States and came up with a new concept on Michelin keys,” said Matthew Rembe, an executive director of Los Poblanos.

Los Poblanos was just named a Michelin two key hotel. It’s a recognition that Rembe never expected.

“We are a unique experience, and we were happy that New Mexico was recognized. Sometimes New Mexico is overlooked in things like this. We are happy for New Mexico, and we were certainly humbled, so it is exciting,” said Rembe.

Each place is judged on five categories: Architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall character, value for the price and guest experience.

“New Mexico has the oldest architecture in the United States and Los Poblanos has a couple of different examples of important architecture, kind of agricultural old dairy buildings. The other is territory revival by John Gaw Meem and that is what sets up apart from other states, that New Mexican-style of architecture,” Rembe said.

This is only the second time the Michelin guide has announced Michelin key hotels.

Rembe hopes it gives people the opportunity to visit the Land of Enchantment and see everything that New Mexico has to offer.

“They can disconnect from their phones and technology and just kind of chill and relax and take in New Mexican culture. It always brings people back, I think New Mexico always exceeds their expectations because they have certain ideas on what the experience is going to be like,” said Rembe.

Los Poblanos got two keys, but there was another inn that got one key in New Mexico. That’s the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe.

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New Mexico

Student podcast focuses on gun violence in Albuquerque

Published

14 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Student podcast focuses on gun violence in Albuquerque

We’ve seen school threats cause lockdowns at campuses surrounded by police, and a handful of students are facing charges. That includes three metro teens accused of bringing guns on campus.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – We’ve seen school threats cause lockdowns at campuses surrounded by police, and a handful of students are facing charges. That includes three metro teens accused of bringing guns on campus.

Now, a group of teens is more than ready to have very grown-up conversations.

“It’s a really amazing way to help us spread awareness on how many youths and how many of us have been killed throughout our state and everywhere around the world,” said Briana Salazar, a college freshman.

Kaery Camacho and Salazar are just two of about 20 New Mexico students launching a new podcast series called “Aimed At Us.”

“Having experienced it, you always now have in mind in the back of your head, what if it will happen again?” said Salazar.

Before Salazar started college, she had already experienced a school shooting.

“There was two male students, and they had a confrontation with each other, and one of the male students pulled out his gun and unfortunately killed the other student, and it was right in front of our school,” Salazar said.

Camacho argues even if students haven’t gone through a shooting, many of them live with that potential fear.

“You’re not even safe at your school anymore,” Camacho said.

They both believe this podcast will give them and other students the chance to finally share their thoughts, worries, and ideas on what has become a continuous problem in New Mexico.

“They don’t want to listen to us, you know, like we’re the ones who are getting affected the most. We should be able to speak our truths,” said Camacho.

They plan on tackling all angles of the teen gun violence epidemic, speaking to people connected to both sides of the trigger.

“We are interviewing people who have been affected with gun violence, or people who have done gun violence, and see how that changed their lives and affected it, and how they’re doing better in their lives,” Camacho said.

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence is backing the effort and paying the students on the podcast.

“They’re deciding who they want to interview. So it’s not us. We’re just kind of helping in the background,” said Miranda Viscoli, co-president of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.

Viscoli says she hopes the podcast provides an outlet for New Mexico students who are on the frontlines of this state and national debate.

“Hear what these youth are going through, what these youth want to see changed, because they have real ideas. They have good ideas. and they’re extremely intelligent,” said Viscoli.

The podcast is supposed to launch in November. if you are a student who would like to be part of it, or know of one, just fill out the contact form on the New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence website.

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